Buying a new or used car can be a hassle. Going to a dealership, haggling prices, and dealing with car salespeople is a lot of hard work. This is why many people who begin their new or used car search should start with an app.
Using an app, you can see the available inventory at all your local dealers before going down there in person, and even get cars delivered to your door. So give one (or all) of these apps a try before you head down to a dealership to see if you can find your next dream car on your phone.
1. Carvana
Carvana is a car company that has revolutionized buying and selling cars. The days of going to a car dealership will soon be over. With Carvana, you can buy a car right from your iPhone or Android device and have it delivered to your door, sometimes for free.
With the Carvana app, you can search over 40,000 new and used cars to find one that fits your needs. You can sort by price or transmission type, and you can get a free Carfax report before you buy. Carvana also offers vehicle financing at an affordable rate, so you can quickly get a newer vehicle and start making monthly payments.
For those who want to trade in their vehicle, Carvana offers a way to do this as well. You can claim an instant trade-in offer and someone will take your old car when your new one is dropped off.
Carvana also created a vending machine for cars, where you can insert your token and receive your vehicle on the spot.
All purchases come with a seven-day money-back guarantee, which is enough time to get a vehicle inspected to make sure nothing is wrong with it.
Download: Carvana for iOS | Android (Free)
2. Vroom
Similar to Carvana, Vroom is also a delivery site for cars. With this app, you can search and find your new (or new to you) car right from your phone. Like Carvana, Vroom also accepts trade-ins, so you can trade your vehicle without having to get it inspected or take it anywhere.
Vroom offers a seven-day, or 250-mile warranty for every vehicle purchased. You also get a limited warranty as well, which will cover repair costs if something goes wrong. Again, seven days is enough time to get a vehicle inspected. If you find a problem, see if Vroom’s limited warranty will cover it.
Vroom is more affordable than Carvana when it comes to both the cash price and the financing terms. However, Vroom has a smaller inventory than Carvana, so if you’re looking for a specific car it might not be for sale here.
If you’re not picky about your car and are looking to trade-in, you can always try getting a quote from both apps and see which service gives you the better deal.
Download: Vroom for iOS | Android (Free)
3. CarMax
CarMax is one of the largest vehicle dealerships in the US, with locations in most major cities. CarMax offers a wide selection of vehicles in its app and allows you to sort by make, model, MPG, price, and more. You’ll see upfront, haggle-free prices, so you know what you’re going to pay beforehand.
While you can’t get a vehicle shipped to your door, you can request an affordable transfer (usually around $200) from one dealership to another. This means that if you find a car you like for sale in another city, CarMax will ship it to your local branch so you can purchase it there.
CarMax also offers a seven-day money-back guarantee for all car purchases.
Download: CarMax for iOS | Android (Free)
4. Autotrader
For those who want to buy a car from a traditional dealership, consider purchasing on Autotrader. Its iPhone and Android app make it easier than ever to find the exact car you’re looking for. While Autotrader isn’t a dealership itself, it includes a database of all dealers near you, so you can search dozens of dealerships with only one app.
You’ll also find a wealth of private sellers on Autotrader, if you’d rather avoid the car dealers entirely.
With such a wide selection of vehicles available at almost every pricing point, you can easily search specific models and makes that interest you. The Autotrader app also lets you add multiple models to your search, so if you have several cars in mind, you can see all that are available in your area.
You can filter by price, distance, mileage, and more. For those searching for an affordable vehicle, the sort by price option has everything from $500 junkers to six-figure vehicles.
Download: Autotrader for iOS | Android (Free)
5. Cars.com
Similar to Autotrader, the official Cars.com app searches for dealership offerings in your area. Most of the inventory is the same when it comes to Cars.com and Autotrader. However, there are instances where you can find a deal that wasn’t listed on one of the other apps. This is why it’s best to have both apps to make sure you see everything available.
Cars.com also has financing calculators and a value estimate, which Autotrader lacks. Its value estimator will let you know if a car is a good deal or not and will tell you how hot a listing is in terms of views and saves.
Download: Cars.com for iOS | Android (Free)
6. Facebook Marketplace
If you know a lot about cars and are looking for a good deal, consider purchasing your next vehicle on Facebook Marketplace. It’s built right into the Facebook app, so if you already have that downloaded you can start searching now.
While dealerships do post on Facebook Marketplace, most of the vehicles you’ll see will be for sale by the owner. The Facebook marketplace app makes it easy to sort by vehicle type, price, and mileage.
If you purchase a car here, you might want to get a pre-purchase inspection done. Some mechanics offer these for free and others charge a modest amount.
When you purchase from a dealership, you will most likely get a warranty which offers enough time to see if anything is wrong and take it back. With private sellers, though, that option isn’t available. This means that before you transfer the cash and the title, you should check to make sure nothing is wrong with the car.
Download: Facebook for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
Find Your Next Vehicle
Buying a car is stressful enough, and it can be even more stressful with an annoying salesperson or an overpriced dealer. Downloading these apps can make the experience easier and help you to prevent getting scammed or paying more than you should. After all, it’s a big purchase, and you should be happy with it.